Martin is money in the ‘Peg

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This article was published 22/01/2009 (6414 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

KEVIN Martin loves the Win in Winnipeg.

The 42-year-old from Edmonton won last year’s Winnipeg Brier and then went on to claim the Men’s World Curling Championship. He’s seeking his third BDO Classic Canadian Open at the MTS Centre this week and his fourth overall.

He won the Players Championship at Max Bell Arena back in the 1999-2000 season and he played in the 1991 world championship in Winnipeg, although he didn’t win it.

Martin, the No. 1-ranked curler in the world along with his team of Winnipeg-born third John Morris, second Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert, opened defence of their 2008 BDO title Wednesday night with a 7-2 victory over Scotland’s Tom Brewster.

Whenever Martin travels to Winnipeg, he usually leaves with money, hardware or both. And he’s heavily favoured to be among the eight teams who’ll make the playoffs with a chance of getting into Sunday’s 1 p.m. final (CBC-TV).

"It sure is one of my favourite places over the years, going way back," Martin said before Wednesday’s opening draw of the $100,000 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event.

"In the last 20 years, we’ve played a lot in Winnipeg and had some good, solid success here. I always love coming back."

On top of the success he’s had here in the BDO Classic, "the Brier didn’t hurt, that was just fine, and the Slams before," he said with a smile. "And even looking back at all the positives even from the worlds in ’91. We didn’t win it, but it was fine, it was good.

"It’s funny how you look back and some of these cities, you have a really positive feel for. And Winnipeg’s one of them for me."

Martin and former world champ Glenn Howard of Coldwater, Ont., have been battling all season for top spot both on the World Curling Tour’s money list and its ranking points. Martin’s the man right now.

"When you get to a city like Winnipeg, they all curl," he said. "They’re a really knowledgeable crowd. And I really appreciate that and you can have a little bit more fun with them because they get it. Just like in Edmonton or Saskatoon.

"That doesn’t happen in every city you go to and I guess that just makes it a very comfortable place for me to be."

What has eluded Martin so far is an Olympic gold medal. He had to settle for silver against Norway’s Pal Trulsen at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City when his out-turn draw to win the gold slid a hair too far in a 6-5 loss.

"I don’t think you can dwell on that," said the native of Killam, Alta. "I’ve got a real good young team, they’re excited about the game and that brings a lot of energy to me. I still enjoy getting out here and battling.

"So for now, I don’t need to worry about what we have or haven’t won because I’m still having fun with it. Our goals this year were to try to keep that No. 1 world ranking and it’s been tough because Glenn’s had such a good year.

"But so far, we’ve done it."

 

chris.cariou@freepress.mb.ca

Wednesday results

 

Draw 1

Brad Gushue 4 Thomas Ulsrud 3
Pat Simmons 5 Reid Carruthers 4
Kevin Martin 7 Tom Brewster 2
Jeff Stoughton 8 Joel Jordison 4
Kerry Burtnyk 5 Mike McEwen 4

 

Today’s games

 

Draw 2, 10 a.m.

Jean-Michel Menard vs. Wayne Middaugh
Randy Ferbey vs. Joel Jordison
Kevin Koe vs. Reid Carruthers
Bob Ursel vs. Greg McAulay
Glenn Howard vs. Pete Fenson

 

Draw 3, 1:30 p.m.

Pat Simmons vs. Jeff Stoughton
Jean-Michel Menard vs. Mike McEwen
Kerry Burtnyk vs. Wayne Middaugh
Brad Gushue vs. Tom Brewster
Kevin Martin vs. Thomas Ulsrud

 

Draw 4, 5 p.m.

Kevin Koe vs. Randy Ferbey
Thomas Ulsrud vs. Bob Ursel
Glenn Howard vs. Mike McEwen
Joel Jordison vs. Reid Carruthers
Tom Brewster vs. Greg MacAulay

 

Draw 5, 8:30 p.m.

Pete Fenson vs. Kerry Burtnyk
Kevin Martin vs. Brad Gushue
Jeff Stoughton vs. Randy Ferbey
Glenn Howard vs. Jean-Michel Menard
Kevin Koe vs. Pat Simmons